Procurement Category Manager

Performance Foodservice; New Windsor (MD); On-site; USD 83,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Stock purchase plan

401K matching

Education assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Performance Foodservice in New Windsor, MD is seeking a Purchasing/Inventory Manager to oversee the customer relations, purchasing, and financial management functions for a key product category. You will coordinate buying, selling, and merchandising with vendors and distributors to drive profits and maintain strong in-stock levels.

The role requires hands-on leadership, collaboration across teams, and a focus on pricing, terms, and vendor performance.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 3–5 years foodservice distribution and purchasing experience.

Responsibilities

• Maintain optimal inventory levels to meet customers’ needs.
• Own strategy to ensure in-stock performance while managing shelf life and yield risk.
• Proactively address slow-moving inventory through consolidation or liquidation strategies.
• Negotiate buy brackets and inbound freight rates to protect margin.
• Assist accounting with invoicing customers for storage and finance charges on excess inventory.

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Job description

Job Description

On-site (in the office) position 5 days per week

We Deliver the Goods:

• Competitive pay and benefits, including Day 1 Health & Wellness Benefits, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401K Employer Matching, Education Assistance, Paid Time Off, and much more


• Growth opportunities performing essential work to support America’s food distribution system


• Safe and inclusive working environment, including culture of rewards, recognition, and respect

Position Summary

Manage the customer relations, purchasing, and financial management functions related to assigned product category in order to achieve maximum profits and customer satisfaction. Coordinate the buying, selling, and merchandising efforts of the vendor and distributor, resulting in satisfied customers, profitable sales and above average in-stock percentages, inventory turns, and days accounts payable outstanding. Interfaces with customers, vendors, management, warehouse personnel, and the Accounting, Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Transportation, Information Services, Inbound Freight Traffic personnel, Vice President, Purchasing and other Purchasing personnel. Functions as a team member within the department and organization, as required, and performs any duty assigned to best serve the company.

Position Responsibilities

• Maintain optimal inventory levels to meet customers’ needs. Monitor over-committed and urgent items. Increase inventory turns upon reaching full truckloads. Resolve slow moving and dead inventory issues. Consolidate low volume, slow turning items and vendors.


• Own strategy to ensure in-stock performance while managing shelf life, freshness, and yield risk.


• Proactively address slow-moving, aging, and dead inventory through consolidation, substitution, or liquidation strategies.


• Monitor and resolve over-committed, urgent, and at-risk items, including buyer outs, short-dated product, and receiving discrepancies.


• Review over-committed, urgent items, buyer’s outs, stock adjustments, receiving discrepancies, and sales below cost reports. Negotiate buy brackets, inbound freight rates, backhaul dollars, cash discounts, extended terms, and earned income. Ensure costing and pricing accuracy, with special attention to changes, discrepancies, and customer audits.


• Process returns to vendors including entering vendor bill backs before merchandise leaves our buildings. Set up vendor bill backs with Vice President, Purchasing. Review monthly reports. Work with Accounts Payable to ensure that vendor bill backs are promptly billed and deducted.


• Continuously evaluate assortment and supplier base, consolidating low-volume SKUs and underperforming vendors while identifying opportunities for private lab and customer-driven substitutions that protect margin without sacrificing quality.


• Assist accounting with invoicing customers for storage and finance charges on excess inventory.


• Communicate issues and solutions to Area Managers, customers, branch multi-unit account personnel, and receiving and shipping personnel. Act as key purchasing contact for Multi-Unit Account Managers and Executives. Act as key purchasing department contact for customers.


• Manage product quality issues such as recalls, etc. Monitor product expiration dates and ensure proper disposal of out-of-date products.


• Manage and train buyers assigned for all facilities.


• Performs other duties as assigned


• Complies with all policies and standards

Required Qualifications

Required Education: High School Diploma/GED or Equivalent Experience

Required Experience: 3-5 years Foodservice distribution and purchasing experience

Compensation

$83,000 - $95,000/annually, with a 30% annual bonus potential